We seemingly know so much about the world around us. With that knowledge, in less than 100 years, we have done great things. We have eradicated deadly diseases. We have explored the deepest depths of Earth’s oceans. We have created spacecrafts. We have visited the Moon. We have sent machines to other planets and to the edge of the solar system. We have peered inside the atom and simulated the beginnings of the known Universe.

Even with all these great achievements, we - as a society - are seemingly not much closer to exploring our minds or finding concrete ways of becoming fulfilled or happy than we were six decades ago, when the famous Swiss doctor and Psychoanalyst Carl Jung last explored the human psyche.

This is the reason I undertook the grueling task of turning my thoughts into words, my internal concepts into chapters and paragraphs. It was because of that very void in our knowledge, in my knowledge. The most important information that isn't taught in schools. The knowledge of finding myself. Filling that void could potentially help us fill something that our species has struggled to fill since the emergence of consciousness. A very fundamental need. The need for us to become ourselves. To find that Self in us, that which resides at the very core of everyone’s being. Your true Self. Some call this self-actualization. Jung called it individuation. It is the process of becoming who you truly want to become, who you are meant to become.

Shortfalls of religions & self-help guides

The absolute main concept behind this blog is this: I do not think that any single currently available self-help book, religion, exercise or scientific model is exhaustive, accurate or concrete enough to properly guide people towards living a truly happy life as the individuals they are meant to be. This includes my blog. I do however believe that I have stumbled upon a concept, or rather, a series of concepts that I think should be taught in schools and when applied, can help anyone find their own path. The path towards becoming happier, healthier and more fulfilled in their lives.

Many of the aforementioned practices of self-help, religion etcetera have nuggets of truths to them. There is something in them that resonates with people. Something that is ringing true to them on a deep, unconscious level. These are the nuggets that I look for, condense down and use to build upon my internal framework of how everything works. What makes our reality tick and how to live in harmony with it rather than trying to fight it at every turn.

Hundreds and thousands of hours of research

Through learning about different schools of sciences, psychological models, religions, faiths, my personal experiences, experiences of others, my personal conclusions and the conclusions of others, I do think I have compiled enough information — or these nuggets of truth — and made profound and accurate enough conclusions or realizations, that I feel responsible for writing them down in a format that is outside of my mind. Especially for myself to remember and hone further, as I tend to forget even the most profound realizations unless practiced.

My goal is to make these ideas — whether they are accurate or not — available for others to ponder upon and to draw their own conclusions about as well, rather than staying in my mind alone, in the form of abstract symbols and visualizations. As images that have always seemed impossible for me to convey to others.

The door

In short, the idea behind this blog is to introduce you to the concepts of conscious triangulation using axis or dichotomies (two opposing ends of a spectrum). A practical way to self-improvement, self-growth, self-actualization and individuation by restoring balance, equilibrium in your mind. To help you build your own compass and map, to give you the ability explore that inner landscape of yours, to journey into it. To find your inner Self.

As mystical and abstract some of these concepts might sound, in reality they are far from either, and at the same time much more so. They are symbolizing very concrete and real things. Things that cannot be explained in words as each is larger than anyone's conscious mind could hold at once, so they have to be communicated in symbols. They are same for everyone and at the same time different. Words and the symbols can however only point toward these mystical and abstract things. But with enough pointers, one can begin to grasp them. All this sounds very abstract and paradoxical, but that is part of it.

Living aligned with your true Self is to be bliss itself. It is to live in synchronicity with the universe. I think this is what Heaven, Nirvana, enlightenment and the like are trying to describe.

"To know and not to do is not to know"
- Stephen R. Covey

The journey into yourself is the hardest one you can undertake. It will take time and true effort. Your mind will try to confuse and trick you on the way. Your instincts will tell you that you shouldn’t even begin, that its not worth it, that you should quit or worse yet, that you are already there. It will often not be fun or comfortable. It can be tiring at times and simply exhausting other times. It will be tedious and painful. That said, it will get easier. Life will get better, more fulfilling and easier with each step. Not because it actually gets any easier, but you will have an easier time navigating through it as your mind lets go of its own chains and you have the space to express yourself, space to live life in accordance with who you are. This journey — as hard as it is — is worth the pain and effort a million times over. It is the most important journey a person can take.

"I’m trying to free your mind, Neo. But I can only show you the door. You’re the one that has to walk through it."
- Morpheus, The Matrix

This blog doesn’t give you any shortcuts, however. This is not a quick fix. There is no such a thing. If you are not in a place in your life where you are able to commit to truly changing your life, feel free to still read this blog, but don’t expect anything to magically change by simply reading.

I’m hoping that this will give you the motivation to take action, to make space in your life for self-growth. At the end of the day, you will need to actively apply the concepts to your unique self to make actual change happen. Nobody can do more than show you the door.

-J.M.J Rapids